Page 14 of Only Fangs

Collin swallowed. “Actually, maybe we could talk somewhere quieter?” he suggested because he didn’t want Mikael to see his face and recognize him.

Zelos grinned again. “Sure.” With a quick gesture of his head, he motioned toward one of the side doors of the club. “Come on.”

Collin followed, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that Mikael had stopped watching him. What he saw, though, wasn’t Mikael. A woman in a long red cape and a silver mask stomped toward him, and her mask did little to hide the scowl on her face.

Collin gulped, even though he had no idea why this woman might be angry with him.

Had she recognized him? But even if she had…

“Do you think this is funny?” she demanded once she caught up to Zelos and Collin.

At first Collin wondered if she might be talking to Zelos, but she was staring squarely athim.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand…” he stammered. He glanced at Zelos, hoping for an explanation or help in some way, but Zelos seemed to be just as confused, judging from his expression. “What’s the problem?”

The woman’s lips curled into a disgusted snarl. She pointed at Collin’s hood and then at his scythe. “Are you making fun of our religion? Do you think this is a joke?!” she snapped.

Collin blinked.

Religion… Oh gods, she meant his costume!

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. Shit. He’d been so busy worrying about the vampires that he hadn’t even considered how this costume might look like blasphemy or disrespect toward other paranormal cultures.

“I didn’t mean to cause any offense, I’m so sorry,” he said.

She crossed her arms in front of her chest and glared at him. “The Grim Reaper isnota Halloween costume. He is a sacred being, not a joke, and I’m so sick of everyone mocking fae culture.”

Fuck.

“I didn’t know,” Collin apologized profusely. “I just wanted–”

“I don’t care what you wanted to do!” She huffed and reached for his mask. “Take that off, I want to see your face.”

“Wait…” Collin backed off, holding up his hands to ward off the fae lady’s touch. “No.”

“What do you mean no?”

Collin took a step back. He wasn’t gonna reveal his identity. He couldn’t. He wasn’t ready to deal with the repercussions yet, especially when there were vampires around. “I can’t show you my face,” he said and immediately realized what a stupid excuse it was.

The woman scoffed. “Don’t be silly.”

She reached for him again, but before she could touch, someone else stepped in, saving Collin from exposure like aknight in shining armor. Except that this was no knight, and his clothes were black rather than shiny, and seeing him so close made Collin’s heart race for entirely different reasons.

Mikael had come to his rescue, stepping between him and the fae. "Is there a problem here?" he asked calmly.

“Yes, actually,” the woman told him. “This idiot is making fun of fae culture. He’s wearing our holy symbol as acostume! Can you believe it?”

Mikael glanced at Collin over his shoulder, and though there was no way he could see through the mask and recognize who Collin really was, Collin still felt as if Mikael could stare straight into his soul and figure everything out.

He froze.

But Mikael only turned back to the woman.

“I’m sure this young man did not intend to mock you,” he said. “I’m sure he meant no harm and that he will apologize properly.”

Collin’s mouth fell open. He had to say something, didn’t he?

But if he spoke, Mikael would surely recognize his voice.

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